McClean right to be upset about abuse but fails to see the bigger picture
Solskjaer’s gamble on trump card pays off
IN THE circumstances, this was all that was required of Manchester United. Three points, however they came. They had seen Chelsea and Leicester seize the initiative while they stewed on the late equaliser conceded against Southampton.
Victory really was the only option for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side at Selhurst Park. United’s performance was not pretty, a world away from some of the free-flowing, free-scoring football they have served up since the restart.
That was an indication of the tension that has now gripped this tight, three-team race for the final two top four spots as well as a credit to Crystal Palace.
And United enjoyed their fair share of luck, fortunately seeing Palace’s strong penalty claims denied and benefitting from a tight VAR offside call.
But Marcus Rashford’s goal was the decisive moment and potentially the most priceless of the 22 he has plundered this season.
It earned three crucial points which helped United stay level on points with fourth-placed Leicester with two games to go, the last being a final day showdown between the two.
After his poker analogy to describe the bad hand United had been dealt — 48 hours less to prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup semiAyew final against Chelsea — a shuffling of United’s pack was expected. However Solskjaer made just two changes, one enforced — fittingly what looked like a gamble — and one perhaps required. With Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams absent through injury, former Palace loanee Timothy Fosu-Mensah was handed a first United start since May 2017. Palace’s wing pair, United old boy Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend, had the potential to make it a very uncomfortable reintroduction for the Dutchman. United’s lack of changes, given their schedule, may have raised some eyebrows. However Solskjaer has finally settled on something United have not had for some time, a clear first choice XI he had named for the previous five games, so minimal disruption was his preference.
There was further justification for his approach too.
Palace’s safety was assured some time ago, they had lost five on the bounce and not beaten United in 10 Premier League attempts at home.
As Chelsea discovered last week, though, when in the mood they can be more than awkward opponents.
United’s first-half display was dotted by little mistakes, keeping Palace encouraged after their confident start.
With half-time approaching, McTominay and Victor Lindelof’s failure to deal with a forward pass allowed Zaha, in the mood against his old club, a run on goal which appeared to end with the Swede tripping Palace’s talisman. Referee Graham Scott waved away Palace’s penalty appeals.
To rub salt into their wounds United edged ahead minutes later when Rashford rounded off United’s best move of the half.
Collecting Bruno Fernandes’s pass, he sent two Palace defenders and goalkeeper Vicente Guaita the wrong way with a quick chop back onto his right foot before slotting in.
United had barely threatened before that, their play generally ponderous and breaking down at the crucial moment.
Three Harry Maguire headers, two off target, from corners were the best they had offered before Rashford struck.
At the other end, Zaha and Jordan Ayew tested David De Gea and Patrick Van Aanholt had another threatening attempt blocked.
Palace continued to fashion the better openings after the break. United had another escape 10 minutes into the second half when had a backpost goal chalked off for the tightest of offsides.
James McCarthy then extended De Gea from 25 yards.
Again United were slow to get into the half though when Martial released Rashford a huge chance to kill off the game arrived. This time he could not take it, not quite connecting and pulling his shot too close to Guaita.
Fernandes then hit the post as another chance came and went. At the third time of asking Martial did finish off Palace with 12 minutes left, after brilliant work from Rashford with a little more help from Fernandes. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita 6; Ward 6, Dann 6, Sakho 7, Van Aanholt 6 (Mitchell 84min); McCarthy 6 (Riedewald 83), Milivojevic 6, McArthur 6.5 (Schlupp 72, 6); Townsend 6, Ayew 6, Zaha 7.5. Subs not used: Hennessey, Meyer, Kouyate, Kelly, Woods, Pierrick. Booked: Milivojevic. Manager: Roy Hodgson 6. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Wan-Bissaka 6.5, Lindelof 7, Maguire 6.5, Fosu-Mensah 7.5; McTominay 6.5 (Matic 62, 6), Pogba 6.5; Greenwood 6 (Lingard 62, 6), Fernandes 7, RASHFORD 8; Martial 7. Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Mata, Fred, Dalot, James, Ighalo. Scorers: Rashford 45+1, Martial 78. Booked: Wan-Bissaka, Maguire. Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 7. Referee: Graham Scott 6.5.